VINEYARDS:
The Huaquen vineyards are located on the border of the Curico and Maule Valleys in Curepto. This area was carefully selected by our professionals due to its climate and location. The Huaquen vineyards are set in the hills at the foot of the Coastal Mountain Range, which provides excellent sun exposure ideal for producing quality wine grapes. Harvested by hand, the grapes are transported in 400kg bins, preventing the grape clusters from being pressed in order to preserve the organoleptic quality of the grape. Yields are around 8000 kilograms per hectare.
CLIMATE:
This broad valley which parallels the Andes and Coastal range has two very distinct day and night temperatures with an annual average of 14° C (57° F). The rain is concentrated in the winter with an average of approximately 28 inches per year. However, the summer is dry with temperatures around 30° C (86° F). The high pressure that comes from the Pacific Ocean causes lower temperatures at night. These conditions allow us to have a long and complete maturation that favors the organoleptic quality of the grapes.
VINIFICATION:
Our grapes are harvested by hand between April and May. In order to extract color and aromas. the grapes are de-stemmed and put into stainless steel tanks with a medium volume (30,000 kg) for 4-6 days in cold temperatures of 10°C (below 50°F) in order to macerate. After, the must is fermented for seven days with selected yeasts in temperatures between 28°and 30° C (82° to 86° F). The malolactic fermentation is done in stainless steel tanks; however, part of this wine (30-40%) is aged for 5-6 months in French barrels which have been used previously for one to two years prior. Finally, both are combined in stainless steel tanks and aged for 3-4 months before bottling.
